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Several city staff, as well as some members of the public and council, say they’ve been threatened, sworn at and feel generally intimidated on occasion by people who vocally and passionately offer opposition to topics being discussed during a variety of city events.

“How did we get here?” pondered Coun. Frank Monteiro.

“I’ve witnessed this chambers being used for similar to a fishmonger barn, where people yell and scream in the background.

“You have to have a certain amount of respect.”

Several city council and committee meetings, among others, during the past year have seen some attendees interrupt the proceedings — occasionally using profane language, as well as general comments of disagreement and, at times, words of support and clapping.

Though much of this has taken place during discussion of the city’s planned recreation multiplex, outbursts have not been limited to that topic.

That needs to stop,” said Craig. “These rules are no different than the rules at the food bank … or the hospital or your doctor’s office, schools.”

The rules approved this week are similar to ones presented to council last fall, known then as a constituent code of conduct, and deferred into the new year.

Anyone deemed by the meeting chair or staff organizer to be violating the rules may be removed from the event, issued a trespass order or face “other legal action” as deemed appropriate.

Though she voted in favour of the policy, Coun. Jan Liggett expressed concern about how the rules would be implemented and their subjectivity.

“It’s going to be different people over the next 50 years who are going to be in that chair, no matter what meeting it is,” she said to Craig, specifically speaking to the issue of not allowing people into the council and staff area unless first authorized by the chair.

“That person is going to pick and choose who they’re going to allow in and who they won’t, to the detriment of democracy here for our community.”

“I don’t believe we need this,” commented Devine, pointing to the procedural bylaw and Roberts Rules of Order, which offers a widely followed series of guidelines for how meetings could be operated.

“A lot of these rules are common sense,” added Ermeta. “I’m satisfied with the rules we have.”

Coun. Shannon Adshade was absent from the meeting.

According to a city staff report, the procedural bylaw applies only to council and committee meetings, whereas the new policy includes open houses and other city-sponsored events.

Ahead of council’s vote, six delegates expressed a mix of opinions about the policy. Half questioned its need and the impact it may have on openness and transparency in the city, while others spoke of a desire to stop hecklers.

“This is the only level of government where the people can speak and interact with their government officials and policy-makers directly. To diminish the ability is in opposition to that right,” commented Bill Kirby, who apologetically referred to the policy as “autocratic” at one point. “I would implore council to instead look at the reasons why there have been outbursts and people acting out of turn.”

In making her presentation in support of the policy, Jill Summerhayes noted the “best way” to present an opinion to council is to do your research and act in a respectful manner.“It seems very unfortunate that it looks as though it’s necessary for this to be implemented,” she said of the policy. “I’m not going to speculate as to whether it’s the (U.S. President Donald) Trump influence infiltrating across the border.”

22 Responses to Craig’s attempt to control the Public the way he controls Council !!

Linda March 30, 2017 at 9:34 am

Jill Summerhayes is a bigger supporter than Donna she is a personal friend of Mr. Craig so he probably asked her to come on out and speak, she should not talk about respect, she and her past Husband said terrible things about me in the past Election, and sent letters and e mails stating that all Stuart Summerhayes wanted was to be able to live long enough to vote for Mr. Craig as he was suffering with Cancer..and to make sure I did not win and sent me the e mails…Horrible

This comment by Jill Summerhayes,( close friend to Craig) who never attended one meeting regarding the multiplex..

In making her presentation in support of the policy, Jill Summerhayes noted the “best way” to present an opinion to council is to do your research and act in a respectful manner.“It seems very unfortunate that it looks as though it’s necessary for this to be implemented,” she said of the policy. “I’m not going to speculate as to whether it’s the (U.S. President Donald) Trump influence infiltrating across the border.”

She is right on a ONE THING… the reference to DONALD TRUMP.. he too is trying to take away the rights of people, just like her friend Herr Craig..

Inclusiveness Standards…aka Code of Conduct on the front page of the Kitchener Waterloo Record this morning.
Very interesting that they bring up that Mr. Dyke received ‘coal’ at his doorstep and the Mayor Craig got a delivery of
‘crap’

Maybe I am reading or interpreting this completely wrong but I thought this was supposed to be a Code of Conduct for members of the public that attend Council Meetings—now we hear about these incidents that have happened to Dyke and Craig?
If you read the article, Bill Kirby is quoted as saying ‘Making a rule will not change your feeling of safety. The person is still going to do what they were going to do. It’s just now, they’re a little more hidden.’

That statement is very interesting….rules don’t really change people, rules just make people more devious in the ways they want to carry out what they intended to do in the first place.

Mr. Kirby also said that he wishes council would have taken a longer look in the mirror to assess what council was doing to bring out the disrespectful behaviour from citizens at public meetings.

That statement really packs a ‘punch’ on both sides.

I think there have been things that council has done to bring the venom to the forefront and have the public react to their actions in the manner that has brought about this whole Code of Conduct issue.

We need to ask ourselves, not who is right and who is wrong here, we need to ask ourselves what can residents do in a ‘creative’ and ‘innovative’ way that will make this council receptive to the matters at hand. Right now many residents feel that this council is not ‘receptive’ or open to any suggestions.

Writing to Council does no good, Protesting doesn’t seem to help, Carrying Signs isn’t working, Coming before Council is a waste of time.

My mother always said to me ‘You get more flies with honey than you do with vinegar’

So residents need to think of more ways to turn the ‘flies’ of this council and city staff to be open and receptive rather than making them close their ears and taking the ‘hard line’ approach.

If one reads the Code of Conduct…oops I mean Inclusiveness Standards that this City wants to enact on the public coming to Council Meetings, I really have an issue with that states ‘All personal belongings MAY be subject to search at the request of ANY city security personnel.
I am going to present a scenario here…I come to a council meeting and I have my ‘oversized’ handbag and in it I have a notebook, a tablet, a cellphone and of course all my personal belongings. I am attempting to go into council chambers when one of the ‘city security personnel’ stop me and tell me they want to search my belongings before I go into council chambers. I then have to go to ‘wherever’ and have my bag searched. The search is over and I am proceeding to go into chambers. I see someone else with a ‘large’ bag and they pull open the door and walk right in. Does that person get searched?? no because it states that personal belongings MAY be reached…it does not state that EVERYONE WILL be searched before entering the chamber. So one has to ask…is this done as discrimination, or possibly harassment? Was I searched because of the clothing I had on that day, my hair colour, my skin colour, maybe because I don’t speak clear English? If we think about this, it truly does open the door to something even bigger.
Also is this ‘search’ going to just be done by a city security personnel and will another person (i.e. suited police officer) be present when this ‘search’ takes place?

They will hire a Commissioner of Security and a staff of 5 and the two retired Police Officers will head the Committee of Council, they will buy the equipment that is used at Airports re: scanners, x ray machines, etc. to protect Council from hidden signs, crap, and coal., T. Vann will only be allowed in if he wears a muzzel. my attempt at Humour….

But Linda what I take issue with is the fact that they say that I MAY by subject to a search, it doesn’t say everyone coming to Council will be subject to a search (Including T Vann..lol) so how do they distinguish who gets searched and who doesn’t

More money wasted on security personnel, staff to check and any security equipment. It looks like they want the people to get upset. I never saw pitchforks or angry fists being raised at any of the council meetings. All this was a way for the Mayor to turn his muzzling order into a plea of sympathy and with the false accusation of being threatened.

It is WE, the people, who are feeling threatened as the Mayor is stealing from us for all his pet projects to make developers happy and laughs at us cause we can no longer express an opinion or a concern to stop it.

When will enough be enough? All of Craigs followers will regret what they have done. Summerhayes just didn’t know what Dougie would turn out to be once he became Mayor and his ego inflamed the brain. It are these types of people that voted in communist parties as they refused to see the whole picture.

Therefore all these “Codes” Inclusiveness – really. And yes WHY all this discontent – could it have anything to do with his PROMISE to tibbets to spend OUR money on someone else’s property.

REALLY & Monteiro doing all Craig’s leg work but not doing it right. We know there was no PRELIMINARY STUDY done.

We have had professionals speaking – namely Dr. Derek Coleman who knows his business.

People DO NOT WANT our money on Conestoga property.

So therefore the outrage against Craig & his brainless puppets. Cannot believe this crap. Yes emotions run high as this is SO WRONG! If there had been some professional reasoning in this Complex issue – some honest discussion among Council with Tax Payers – this whole situation is disgusting & Council is definitely dysfunctional.

The reason for the Coal & other has nothing to do with the Complex but the strike. Everyone is so angry over the money Dyke makes & they are minimum.

I as an old lady have attended every COMPLEX MEETING and never once was there any threats or dangers that I felt.

Craig & Reid frighten me more with their no-brain thinking & their threats.

This Inclusiveness is a threat to democracy & it is a shame we have come to this. I think Jan could have seen that the threats were from the Strike issues – not the Malcontents. I am so ashamed of our Council & Staff.

Jill Summerhayes doesn’t have a clue -was not at one meeting to know what happened. And those 2 other ladies – never saw them before, so assuming they both got hugs from the “frightened” female councillors that they were put up to speaking Tues. night – shame – shame shame on them!!!!

What the ass patting Record does not ever seem to report is the huge run of straight out lies by some city staff, council, mayor, and others pushing for the college location.

The taxpayer and most people don’t like finding out about the numerous lies they have been told.

How often do you trust someone when they lie to you?

Ask Pam about how see could tell the public not to drink and drive, then she does with 8-10 GLASSES OF WINE.

Who’s the fool?

This is the worst council ever.

Just look again at the ones that follow the mayor. COPS AND TEACHERS!

Never let anyone running in this city get a free pass in an election if they did either.

This group has blood sucked the public for years and will continue.

That is just how it is. The entitled. No offence taken Linda. on the muzzle.

Just let them try and look at my bag. Maybe I’II hide something in my Turban and have a ceremonial dagger in my belt.

Ya gotta wonder if Doug’s closet protester Jill will get searched.

Folks, that meeting group of speakers was planned.

I would have loved to watch old Dougie boy try this shit that night at the Bee Hive.

Look within you idiots for the reason why this all took place.

Create a problem…find a solution in your favor.

That is how government works period.

The hero’s in all this has been those that came out loud or silent to protest the mistreatment of the public.

The enemy here is the mayor, Dyke, and some of council.

This is the problem not the taxpayers. Isn’t that amazing a bag of coal and a bit of shit. Keep the DNA boys, it may be useful in 20 years. I wonder who would do such a dastardly deed to 2 fine people.

When I was in Nam we did that to our Captain and he cried and made lots of new rules. Ole’.

Well we did not get the Olympics. Too bad for the Region but glad Craig can’t add that to his legacy and on our Tax Bill. Maybe now he can get down to real life and find a Central spot to build the Complex on so that Cambridge business people can be supported with the extra income.
We don’t all have the City income like Craig & the paid trips & all the benefits – plus other bonuses that we don’t know about.
The Olympic people did hear about the dysfunctional Council & City staff we have in Cambridge & took it elsewhere. Smart people.

Correct Maggie, they did hear about the multiplex issues and ran. Had the mayor and the puppets done the right thing from the start and put this in the heart of our city the games location could well have been here. Had the proper location, honesty and open dialog taken place from the start Hespeler road would have the footings in the ground today and Buckingham would be expanding the arenas. Going to the college is political suicide for any council member and Mike M., Pam, Shannon,and Frank know this. Could you imagine if these people were in charge of troops in a war? Pity our businesses folks…council lost these games not the people. Let your friends know the truth and not what the Record prints or downtown will spread. Karl better get behind the flea market location or his name will never be mentioned. Thanks Doug, you cost us millions.

Tommy…there is an actual name to the misinformation being fed to the media. It’s called “Fake News”.

Fake news is a type of hoax or deliberate spread of misinformation, be it via the traditional news media or via social media, with the intent to mislead in order to gain financially or politically.This is what the Mayor and Dyke and other Councillors and Staff are doing and they are now upset that constituents are using social media to tell the facts and the truth.

They may be able to muzzle the people in council, but they can not do the same with a polite and controlled protest.

Anyone remember the city strikers in front of city hall?

Residents who were attending a council meeting were approached with handouts and while council was in session, they were loudly yelling outside. Why was that not considered threatening and inappropriate and disrespectful?

If city workers can do this in front of city hall, then why attend a meeting where the Mayor does not want to hear from residents? All we need to do is strike out front the same as their very own city workers…then we are prevented from going through a search…

This will only be the beginning of more to come now that this Mayor has got this code of conduct in place. He will feel more control and empowered. give him enough rope and he will hang himself…no need to leave crap at his doorstep as he puts shit in his own mouth with almost every word he speaks.

It’s it interesting how we find out that Mr. Dyke got coal delivered to him and Mr. Craig was sent ‘crap.’ My question to this is what does this have to do with Citizens Code of Conduct when attending a Council Meeting?
Oh right…maybe they will have security search us to see if we have coal or ‘crap’ on our person.
Why did this information have to be shared in the paper regarding the Code of Conduct….as far as I am concerned this has nothing to do with a Code of Conduct when attending a Council meeting…am I missing something here?

Just good timing – the Strikes happen – people get mad – do coal & poop and then blame it on the Complex issue.
Boy this is so sad so stupid and so dishonest on the part of Council & Staff.
Did you see Pam & Donna run out & give hugs to the 2 women for LYING ABOUT THREATS.
If nothing else this whole Complex situation has certainly opened up eyes as to our crooked politics right here in Cambridge. How sad & humiliating when people think the Complex was the issue – it wasn’t – isn’t – but they made it so.
Anything to take attention off the matter in hand. Well done Craig – Pam – Wolf – Monteiro – you are liars & a disappointment to women & families. DISGUSTING!!

There could still be a charge here bozo. Assault with a dead weapon! I tried to get my name changed at the licence office today. Apparently Sinbad has been taken. To the above posts….I repeat…Create a crisis then come up with a solution in your favor. Too bad Donna and Pam didn’t give the young girl a hug in court during PAM’S D.U.I. case. PAM Wolf could have killed that pretty young WOMAN.

Gee am I in Canada?? I just woke up this morning – a little old lady – a Senior in Cambridge – but after attending Tues. Council meeting I feel like I am in Russia – & our Mayor is the Gustapo!! The coal & crap Dyke & ? got – was from the unhappy STRIKERS – not Complex people. And Ken Tuckey was slighted by the Mayor – Ken had the right to a REBUTTAL – but Craig refused it. I have been a lifelong resident/Taxpayer reader of the Times and am just about feeling like we the “people” have no say any more. Even Jan bowed to the Power – and it was made to look at the Council meeting & in the paper like we did wrong – it was the STRIKERS – NOT US!
Therefore, it serves Cambridge right that we did not get the Summer Olympics. If Council etc. had done the Complex properly – professionally – under Dr. D. Coleman’s leadership – we just might have had a chance at the Olympics. But I also think they knew of the dissent in Cambridge & wanted nothing to do with us. So people of CAMBRIDGE – WAKE UP – LEARN WHAT IS GOING ON – OR BETTER YET WHAT IS NOT GOING ON. If you citizens/tax payers of Cambridge continue to just laze along & pay no attention – you will get what you deserve.
As I said as an honest abiding Senior Citizen – I now feel like I live in Russia – Well done Mayor & Council members – reap what you sow –

No, no, no. It was only the 2 or 3 people in Cambridge that caused all the issues. They are the only ones that don’t want the sportsplex. Can anyone out there tell me if Dyke has ever answered a question? Always hanging in limbo waiting for some facts to get an answer. Well I’m off to Iran to open a Christian book store.